My husband, some friends, and I will be vactioning in Juan Dolio July 9th-13th. We are staying at the Barcelo Capella and were wondering if they offer any snorkeling excursions. Or if some place else offers them that are better. After looking on the web I see many are only offered on Thursdays, is that true? Since we arrive on Wednesday afternoon and leave on Sunday we would like to have something set up before we go. Thanks for your help!!
- Thread starter Rachelkk
- Start date
Juan Dolio
The best snorkeling excursion is to the island Catalina.
You reserve that in the hotel with one of the represenantes.
You reserve that in the hotel with one of the represenantes.
Neptuno dive centre on the beach at your hotel offers snorkelling excursion to Catalina island on Thurs and Mon. So you would have to go on the Thurs. You need to cover up well with lots of suncream or you will get fried!! They also do a half day snorkelling excursion to the local fishing village of Guayacanes where you do in a boat up the coast, snorkelling, lunch and sunbathe. Possibly the latter would be better for you as they go any day with a minimum of 5 people, so it could be more like a private boat and snorkel trip for you whichever day you like. To book either just go to the dive centre on the beach at your hotel or call them on 1809 526 2005
Matilda
Matilda
Snorkeling in Juan Dolio
Hello,
I did both excursions with the Neptuno Dive Center. The Coco Beach excursion was nice, got very wet on the boat though. The snorkeling is from the Esmeralda Beach, not much to see in the water. One day it was fully booked, the next day they didn't have enough people to go. We finally recruited three other partners off the beach. You could go by bus to the beach and snorkel from there. The lunch at Guayacanes was nice. You pay extra if you want lobster.
The excursion to Catalina was disappointing. If you go with the Neptuno, you will be with divers and they always have priority over snorkelers. We were taken to a spot for divers (the Wall), told not to snorkel towards the Wall (which was the only part where there was something to see), possibly because of the current. There are gorgoniae which we hadn't seen elsewhere but very few fish. You snorkel while the divers dive (1h15min max), then they take you to the other side of the island where the restaurant is. The divers go back out for their second dive and you get left on the beach (nice) and told that you can snorkel along the edge of the beach (right hand side when looking from the sea, right where you disembark, the "cliff" side. There is nothing to see there. We had been told that after lunch we would be taken out by boat to do more snorkeling for an hour and we were taken to the far end of the cliff that we had explored before lunch! We complained and after some discussion were taken for 1/2h to the middle section of the beach where the reef is and where we finally saw some fish. Although not a lot. If you do go to Catalina, go with a tour that serves lobster at lunch, not for the lobster but because they take you to the better area for snorkelling or do some good negociating with Neptuno before hand.
the Wall
North ---------------------------------------------------------------
!
!
! other restaurant Restaurant
!----------------------------------------------!
!
xxxxx !nothing to see
reef !
! South
The beach is actually pretty long and apparently you cannot go from one area to the other on foot because of the concessions to the different operators. See the pictures of Catalina on Google Earth (do a search for La Romana) and you will understand. You want to go to the middle part, not the South part of the beach with the cliff. So pick the right tour operator (Other people went with Crystal and they take you to the good section).
We didn't snorkel from the Capella but from the Talanquera beach just next door, same beach, and there is a bit to see there if you go out to the reef but be careful with the current.
Have fun.
Hello,
I did both excursions with the Neptuno Dive Center. The Coco Beach excursion was nice, got very wet on the boat though. The snorkeling is from the Esmeralda Beach, not much to see in the water. One day it was fully booked, the next day they didn't have enough people to go. We finally recruited three other partners off the beach. You could go by bus to the beach and snorkel from there. The lunch at Guayacanes was nice. You pay extra if you want lobster.
The excursion to Catalina was disappointing. If you go with the Neptuno, you will be with divers and they always have priority over snorkelers. We were taken to a spot for divers (the Wall), told not to snorkel towards the Wall (which was the only part where there was something to see), possibly because of the current. There are gorgoniae which we hadn't seen elsewhere but very few fish. You snorkel while the divers dive (1h15min max), then they take you to the other side of the island where the restaurant is. The divers go back out for their second dive and you get left on the beach (nice) and told that you can snorkel along the edge of the beach (right hand side when looking from the sea, right where you disembark, the "cliff" side. There is nothing to see there. We had been told that after lunch we would be taken out by boat to do more snorkeling for an hour and we were taken to the far end of the cliff that we had explored before lunch! We complained and after some discussion were taken for 1/2h to the middle section of the beach where the reef is and where we finally saw some fish. Although not a lot. If you do go to Catalina, go with a tour that serves lobster at lunch, not for the lobster but because they take you to the better area for snorkelling or do some good negociating with Neptuno before hand.
the Wall
North ---------------------------------------------------------------
!
!
! other restaurant Restaurant
!----------------------------------------------!
!
xxxxx !nothing to see
reef !
! South
The beach is actually pretty long and apparently you cannot go from one area to the other on foot because of the concessions to the different operators. See the pictures of Catalina on Google Earth (do a search for La Romana) and you will understand. You want to go to the middle part, not the South part of the beach with the cliff. So pick the right tour operator (Other people went with Crystal and they take you to the good section).
We didn't snorkel from the Capella but from the Talanquera beach just next door, same beach, and there is a bit to see there if you go out to the reef but be careful with the current.
Have fun.
I was very long time tourguide to the island Catalina.
Catalina is the best snorklingspot in the Caribbean, but you have to go to the right place in Catalina.
Our company do not exist any more. Therefore you can not reserve with us.
You have to snorkel at the dark spots in the sea. There are the coralreefs. Where are thousands of different fishes and corals.
Catalina is the best snorklingspot in the Caribbean, but you have to go to the right place in Catalina.
Our company do not exist any more. Therefore you can not reserve with us.
You have to snorkel at the dark spots in the sea. There are the coralreefs. Where are thousands of different fishes and corals.